Continuous horizontal hot molten metal casting apparatus



June 26, 1956 B. BROWNSTElN CONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL.CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1954 INVENTOR. BenjaminBrownstem T TORNE Y8 June 26, 1956 B. BROWNSTEIN CONTINUOUS HORIZONTALHOT MOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1954IN VEN TOR. Benjamin Brownsrein BY Z) HIS A ORNEYS June 26, 1956 aBROWNS-[Em 2,751,647

CONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 VIII/III. 5

INVENTOR. Benjamin Brownsfeln June 26, 1956 B. BROWNSTEIN CONTINUOUSHORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL. CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJuly 8, 1954 NE Y5 B. BROWNSTEIN Jime 26, 1956 CONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOTMOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 8, 1954 R HTm N T R m r 0 m5 June 26, 1956 B. BROWNSTEIN 2,751,647

CONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 a .1. I. r 79 67(66 =44: 62 8o 2 Fig.9

INVEN TOR. Benjamin Browns/em HIS A ORNEYS June 26, 1956 B. BROWNSTEINCONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet8 Filed July 8, 1954 Lllllllbllll r lllllls llltllk QCGE @PC INVEN TOR.Benjamin Brownsfein W m l HIS AT ORNEYS June 26, 1956 B. BROWNSTEIN2,751,647

CONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 it I To Crone .4 Motor 6';- 1:--- I n \Y r In Alla u .4 I a To Ladle Motor 1 i 2 g- L. g v o) a:

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INVENTOR. j min Brownsrein BY A Z Z O) HIS A TOR/VEYS o1 United StatesPatent CONTINUOUS HORIZONTAL HOT MOLTEN METAL CASTING APPARATUS BenjaminBrownstein, Ellwood City, Pa.

Application July 8, 1954, Serial No. 442,098

Claims. (Cl. 22-573) This invention relates to an improved method and 35-1 paratus for casting and particularly for casting molten metal insubstantially horizontal open top molds.

Heretofore, the actual casting of molten metal in such molds has beenaccompanied with turbulence and agitation. Not only are the dangers ofcasting relatively large articles increased thereby, but there isappreciable overflow and resulting loss of metal.

Additionally, to cast relatively long articles, such as a channel beam,one practice has been to abut a series of molds endwise and then fiowthe molten metal in the large recess formed by the molds which extendssubstantially the combined lengths of the molds. After solidification,the molds are singly stripped from the metal as by being pulled around awheel while the solid integral cast beam continues on in a straightdirection. As the molds are now built, there is an undesirable liftingor humping of the long cast beam each time a mold is stripped away.

With my method and apparatus, these objectionable features are entirelyeliminated. Instead, casting the molten metal is accomplished smoothlywith substantially no agitation or turbulence and with no overflow. Inaddition, the molds are readily stripped from the cast article withoutlifting, jarring, or similarly disturbing it.

In my method, I flow a molten metal or other liquid into a mold in adirection substantially parallel to the floor of the mold andsimultaneously move the source of p stantially a laterally-disposedexit. This member is'lowered into the mold and moved relatively thereto.In one embodiment, I link-a number-of the molds end-to-end,

The molds may be butted endwise to form a large recess in which anarticle may be cast and which extend substantially throughout thecombined lengths of the molds. After solidification of the casting, aconveyor joined to 2,751,647 Patented June 26, 1956 ice . A 2 Figure 5is a section of Figure 4 on the line V--V; Figure 6 is an oifset sectionof Figure 5 on the line Vl-VI and illustrates the sprocket and apronattachment and their operating linkages;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and shows the spreader at therear of the train of molds;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 and illustrates the sprocketandapron in a raised position;

Figure 9 is a section of Figure 1 on the line IXIX;

Figures 10 through 14 are transverse mold sections similar to thesection shown in Figure 9 and indicate some showing the illustrating thestripping action;

Figure 19 is a side elevation of a modified apparatus and illustratesanother method of obtaining relative movement between a source of themolten metal and the molds; and

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic electric circuit illustrating how the craneand ladle motors may be synchronized.

' Structure Referring to the drawings, the casting apparatus'in-.

cludes a crane and ladle for the molten metal, generally shown at 10, aspreader and apron at 11 to direct the metal,.molds 12 to receive themetal, and a conveyor 13 to carry the molds.

Considering these parts in the order named, a crane 14 (Figures 2 and 3)having an operators cab 15 conven:

'tionally travels rails 16. Forward of the cab, there is a V ladle 17containing molten metal and vhaving trunnion shafts 1 8jand 19 journaledin bearings 20 which are supported from crane girders 21. Adirect-current, ad-

justable speed motor 22 rotates the shaft 18' through a, gear reducer 23and coupling 24. Motor-22 is connected,

for example, in series with a direct-current, adjustable speed motor 22a(Figure 20) which propels the crane in a conventional manner. In thisway, one vmotor does not operate without the other. An adjustable gauge25 may e be placed at a selected pivoted position with respect to theleading mold advances the train of molds. Each mold has a rearwardlyextending member and is singly stripped from the cast article withoutlifting it by being pivoted about the rearwardly extending member as theconveyor moves out of its upper flight.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a presently-prefigure -4 isan-otiset section of Figure lonthe'line' with a forward sprocketremoved;

5 .exit consisting of an upper lip 30 and a lower lip. 31. The exitextends across the width of a mold. When the f molds comprise aplurality of longitudinally disposed reits support arms 26 which alsoare' pivotally secured to the sides of the ladle 17. By thisarrangement, the flow from the ladle can be restricted as desired by thegauge A funnel 27 receives the metal from the ladle and. f has a dial 28toindicate to the operator in the cab 15 if f the ladle is being turnedat a proper rate. The indicator dial 28 is electrically connected to theoperating drive of in a conventional manner.

the ladle 17 and is controlled and operated ith the ladle A' spreader 29(Figures 2, 4, 5,. and 6 receives the;

molten metal from the funnel 27 and conducts it directly into the molds12. The spreader is also funnel-shapedl and has a spout of substantiallyrectangular crossrs'ection which curves as shown to provide a'laterally-disposed ce'sses as shown in Figure 9 the bottom lip 31 has aconfiguration conforming therewith so that the spout may... I ;assume atleast a very close relation with the floor of the mold. Partitions 32 inthe throat of the spout aid in sub dividing the flow of molten metalinto the desired recesses. An apron 33 is stationed at the level of theupper lip 30 1 and preferably in contact therewith. To this end, lip

30 and the apron preferably have beveled edges. Crane is an olfsetsection of Figure 15 on the line A girders supportthespleadei'afidapron.Plates 34 project downwardly from such girders and" carry a-shaf-t-3S=Whichis rotated by a reversible motor 36 through a gear reducer 37and coupling 38. Outside" of each plate 34, shaft 35 V has a" fixed'lver39. A link 4s compete each lever 39 to a lever 41 fined to a stub' shaft42 also jotinialil in the plates 34? An arm" 43 fired to eacl'i' of theshafts 42 is pivotally joined to a side of the spreader 29 Ad di'tiodalarm's 44, pbsifioned above the arms 43, pivotalily connect at each endto" the plates 34' and the'sid'es" of the spreader-"2?anemsnitainthespreader in a vertica'bposition when it is raised and iowerea. a The"apron 1s sup ported'by plates @515 each of which a bell crank layer 46is i o'tallyjoined'; One leg 47 of each ever pivotaily' 'conn t6 armifig' hig's 50' on the spree. 1 ichain-51 joins't'h'e" other e'g 52 ofeach of the bell crank levers to a Iever'SStiiied" to are shaft 35: Astop 54, limits the lowerin of the apron. The ladle 17, funnel 27,adjustabl gaug'' 2'5,

spreaeer 29', and earns 33' may all cdrnprisemeralframes and 4? whichsimilarly engage ups'fand having a liner 55 of molded asbestos, fireclay, earson, V

or the like t'c'i contact the moltenmetal;

The molds 12 may be compos asaesros, married season, er the I ures 1 and9 through 17) communicates with ad acent niold'sso that "s'irigl,integral article may be cast which exteaas snestasasny are cdriibinedleng'ths or the 7 Accordingly, molds intrmdiate the end rrrol'ds; u'suhave no endwalls ata'll. The train of molds' be anemia 1 cast 2'!variet'y' of elongated articles by provid- 7 ing entrants-registering"recesses".- Thtis, substantially rec tangular or square beams may becast with the mold shown figure 9, or a single fiat plate may be castwith iri to facilitate illustration of the area below. Other mfidifiCaiidfiS ificlfid ailgl b53116 as shown Figtir 11; nan fauna beams,Figure 12; triangular beams, Figure 13; and channel beams, Figure nearmeld, regardless of internal structure, has letex anding flanges 56 and57, transverse end ribs 7 and a longitudinal rib so joining the andribs. At the center of theilongitudinal rib there is an anchoring mg 61.A name 62, carries ea'eh mold. Each name incI 'ides "longitudinal slot63 to receive the anchoring lug II' S' the mold to e X paiild or(:Ontl'iitit ng conditions require. Each frame fig Side flanges 64 and65 and Slight en: the side flafige's' in which a strip 67,

iece an freedom for the h nts to expand laterally by "an: H ssbearsdowniagaifist flanged-55 and is hated the asbestos strip 70. Gib 71 1sL-shap'edand has a V wager leg to ngagea keyway in. flange69'tofiar1'ge64 from whichit s insulated 73 pas hroug started holes 74in the gli insulation 75 to hold the gi b to the The positions of thecap screws 73 in then 7, sllciittied sales V'iK aiid therefore theposition of the inold 1; as wen is df'tffi'iiiid by adjusting screwswhich pa thf ugh thradedholes :in the shorter leg of gib 7 1 'ag V ni',thr is an accurate controlofthe alignment of the ribs 7 nt achend, eachof which has a "the names andfnolds in a desired longitudinal aligntr 7rearwardly extending side arms 78- 1 on which rear rollers of Figure in,mission csastraaisn birig used thereby positively eenrerseaen rhold'over each 15mg beard fits. The 'fia'ng'es" 5 6 57 t on the insulatingboard and are 'field in I H r i "'meis ar carried rollers which areuniquely, spaced to aid ii sfripping the molds. from thesolidified 1cast name as hereinafter described. Each frame has 4 a 82 are mounted.Front rollers 83 are spaced from the actual" front of each' frametoaccommodatethe rearwardly extending arm of a preceding mold. Each rearwheel of a frame which precedes another frame is connected to the frontrollers of the succeeding frame by means allowing relative movementtherebetween. Thus, link 83a having a forked end and link 84 whichpivotally engages the legs of the fork both have slotted holes 85 toengage their respective a'X'l'c's 8'6" and 87' on: which. the rollersare mounted.

A conveyor is-used to support the train of molds below the spreader 29'and'als'o to strip the molds from the cast article and then return them'to"thei rformen positions. Holding means is also provided to maintainthe molds in abutting relation at the time of casting the molten metal.The conveyor (Figures 1, 2, 4, and 15) includes spaced-apart continuous,link chains 88 and 89 which travel around forward sprockets 90 andrearwar sprdcli'et's' 9 1. The sprocketsare mounted respectively on va'iifs' 9'2 and 93. Axle 92' is driven by a reversible motor 94 througha gear reducer 95 and coupling 96. The axles,

sprockets, and accessory equipment are supperted by a seriesof posts 97which are reinforced by side beamsQ Sx andrrarisverse' beams 99. Thetransverse beams, in turn,

can-y a support 100' for the guiding walls 30, tracks" 101' on which therollers 82 and 83' ride, and'plates Hi2 over which the link chainsslide. The lower flight of the conveyar is similarly supported. .Tracks101a carry the rollers, and plates 192a carry the chains. If desired,the tracks I01 and plates 102 may slope downwardly some what toward theforward sprockets 9Q to overcome the sluggish new of some moltenmeta-ls. The leading. mold ffairi' is connected-to the chains. A crossbar 103 fastoned to chains 83 and 89: has interconnecting. links 104extending to an axle 105 of the leading frame-.- As shown, theare'c'onnected by pins Hi6 engaging slotted holes 107 to providerelative movement between the cross bar itiiiar dan:19's. V 7 Behind theforward sprockets 9 0 there is a fluid-actuated'cyI indr T08 trunnionmounted; on the side of a post 7 97. The piston 169 of the cylinderoperates a lever J which pivots across arm 1'11.v This cross armbridgesthe molds and is journaled at opposite sides in bearings 112. The centerportion of the cross arm 11 is offset so that the cross arm does notinterfere with'the travel of the molds whenin a raised position. A base..113, rearwar qly o'fthe conveyor (Figures 1, 2, and 7) supports we.fluid-actuated cylinders 114 and 115 on a level with 1 are molds; '12.The pistons lldand 117 of the cylinders i are joined by: a rear, crosshead H8 and a forward cross had' 119 which engages the'last mold in thetrains,

Cross head 1 15 has legs 12% on which rollers 121 are intimated; Traclson the base 113 support the rollers and cross head H? when the pistonsare retracted.

Tracks-112a support the rollers 121 and cross head 11 9 I when thepistons are thrust forwardly.

,- Figure l9 illustrates arnodificationz Some mill layg outs mayfnothavesufiicient room to permit a crane and ladle'aad auxiliary equipment tomove along aborizontalj' unway due. to the location of converters, openhearth furnaces,.pouring platforms, and the like. Relative move-gv Vmenf-betweenthe source of the molten metal and-the t the side of theframe 52. in this man s The underside of each frame mclu'ds transverse"ating the meshing gears 129 21116130.-

Operation operatiomlthe molds are brought to the top of the conveyor andcylinder los operated to Iowa-me cross arm 111 from the position shownby'th dotted lines 131 in Figure 5 to a position in front of the leadingmold. Cylinders 114 and 115 are then operated to bring the cross head119 against the last mold in the train. This action pushes the leadingmold against the cross arm 111 and rams the succeeding molds into theabutting relation illustrated in Figure 17. The molds are treated withhot tar, asbestos cement, or other commercial mold treating product,particularly along their abutting edges, and are then ready for thepouring.-

Ladle 17 is filled with metal preferably equal in volume to the combinedvolumes of the moldsas by weighing the charge from a main ladle in aconventional manner. The operator moves the ladle 17, funnel 27, andspreader 29 over the molds. Motor 36 is energized to rotate shaft so asto slacken the chains 51. This permits the bell crank levers 46 to lowerthe apron 33 until leg 52 hits the stop 54 when the apron isapproximately at the level of the molds. Immediately after the apronstarts to descend, levers 39 and 41 and links and 43 lower the spreaderso that the bottom lip 31 of the curved spout is at least immediatelyadjacent the floor of the leading mold when motor 36 stops. If the moldhas recesses, the lower lip 31 conforms thereto so that the spreader andmolds fit together as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In some cases,particularly where warpage is not apt to occur, the spreader mayactually contact the mold.

At this time, the adjustable gauge 25 may be positioned i to provide aslot of desired width between the pouring lip of the ladle 17 and thegauge. From his cab 15, the operator jointly energizes motors 22 and22a. As shown in Figure 20, these motors may have their leads 135 and136, respectively, connected in series through a main operatingcontroller switch 137 having a manually-operated handle 138 and inputleads 139. These motors are timed so that motor 22 continuously turnsladle 17 to maintain a level of molten metal over the slotted openingbetween the gauge 25 and ladle 17 and to empty the ladle at the timemotor 22a brings the crane to the end of the mold train as shown inFigure 7. One way to do this is to incorporate conventional adjustablemotor speed controllers 140 and 141, such as rheostats, in the leads 135and 136, respectively. The correct setting may be determined for a givencasting operation and usually is constant for that operation. Whilepouring from the ladle, the operator watches the indicator 28 and may,if desired, regulate the speed of motors 22 and 22a accordingly. Thepouring operations, particularly at the first and last molds, arecontrolled by limit switches in a conventional manner. shown. As thespreader is moved along the molds, the latter receive the molten metal.When the mold has a number of recesses, the partitions and conformingshape of the spreader direct the molten metal into the proper channelsand away from the tops of the intervening Walls. Particularly when thesubstantially uniform flow of metal, as controlled by the setting ofgauge 25 and the synchronized action of the motors 22 and 22a,substantially equals the volume of mold traversed by the spreader perunit of time, there is what I term a volumetric displacement, and thecasting step is especially quiescent and free of turbulence andoverflow. The air in the molds is evenly-displaced by the inflowingmetal. During this time, the apron 33-smooths the molten metal as it isdischarged from the spreader and confines the upper level of the moltenmetal for at least'a portion of its horizontal travel. w'Theapron alsocounteracts any tendency of the molten metal to overflow or spill overthe sides of a mold. Otherwise, when hot molten metal contacts therelatively cold metal of the apparatus, the molten metal solidifies andseriously interferes with the operation of the various machine parts.

If the embodiment of Figure 19 is used, truck 125 moves the conveyor andaccessory parts in the direction of arrow 132 to obtain the same castingoperation as described. Motor 128 can be similarly timed with motor 22to provide substantially equal volume displacement of The switches,therefore, are notair in the molds withthe volume of metal received. ineither case, when the spreader reaches the end of the train of molds,motor 36 is again operated but in a reverse direction. The spreader 29is accordingly raised first by the described linkage. Shortly after thespreader. begins to rise, the apron 33 also rises so that these partsare above the molds in a noninterfering position, as shown in Figure 8;The longitudinal expansion of the mold and mold frames takes placetoward the fluid-actuated cylinders 114 and 115. The cross head 119 canbe moved backwardly as operating conditions require. The describedlateral'movement of the molds in the frames accommodates expansion inthat direction.

After the casting has solidified, cylinder 108 is operated to lift thecross arm 111 out of the path of travel of the molds. Motor 94 isstarted and by the chains 88 and 89 and cross arm 103 advances the molds12 toward the right as viewed in Figure 2. This causes the molds toseparate, as shown in Figure 16, when the axles 86 and 87 are pulled tothe farthest ends of the slotted holes in links 83a and 84. The motionof the mold travel is guided by the guiding lugs 79 and walls 80. Thismotion also releases the casting from the gripping action of the molds.As the molds move around the forward sprockets 90, there is anaccelerated front end movement which frees the bottom of any mold stilladhering to a casting. A roller table 133 receives the elongated castingand carries it away from the molds. It is especially empasized that uponpassing around the forward sprockets, each mold and mold frame arepivoted about the rear rollers 82 which are carried by the side arms 81extending past the end of the mold frame. ment away from the casting atall points along the mold, and each mold is stripped away fromthe'casting as shown in Figure 18 without in any way lifting, jarring,or similarly disturbing it. The position of the molds in the lowerflight of the conveyor is shown by dotted lines. Subsequently, motor 94is reversed and the molds 12' are backed into their original positionsin the top flight of the conveyor.

Thereafter, the operation as described is repeated.

While the foregoing disclosure describes a presently preferredembodiment and modifications thereoffit is understood that the inventionmay be: practiced in still other forms within the scope of the followingclaims."

Iclaim: 1. Casting apparatus including a conveyor, a pluralit of moldspositioned end-to-end and adapted to be ad-- vanced longitudinally bythe conveyor, each mold com+ municating with adjacent molds whereby asingle, integral article may be cast which extends substantially thecom-' bined lengths of the molds, means to center the molds 'for' theirlongitudinal travel, rearwardly extending side arms on each mold, a rearroller on each side arm, a front roller on each side of each mold butspaced from the front thereof to accommodate the rearwardly'exfendingarm of a preceding mold, at least one side arm on each mold having atrailing link connected thereto and disposed adjacent the correspondingrear roller thereof and adja-' cent a front roller of the succeedingmold to link the molds together, said link having slotted holes to allowr'ela-" tive movement between said molds, means for pressing the moldstogether to eliminate the slack from the slotted holes in the links andhold the molds in fixed abutting contact to receive a molten charge, andmeans to move the conveyor whereby as the molds leave the upper flightAccordingly, there is a move-- agaaneaa to thelsucceeding mold; a rearroller on each side arm, a

hold the molds in fixed: abutting contact to receive a molten chargeincluding a stop 'adapted to engage the leading mold; means to engagethe rearmostmold and forc'e'the molds into endwise contact, and means tomove the conveyor chains whereby as the molds :leave the upper flightthey pivot abouttherear rollers and strip away from the solidifiedcharge without lifting it at any point.

3; Qastingapparatus includingaplurality of molds positioned end-to-endand adapted. for'longitudinal travel, each mold communicating withadjacent moldswhereby a single article may be cast which extendssubstantially the combinedzleng ths of them'olds, a rearwardly extendingarm on eaclr mold, a link. connecting eachv arm of a'mold preceding.another mold to the succeeding mold and. adapted to allowrelativeimovement therebetween, means to hold the molds in abutting: relation toreceive a charge, means to move the molds longitudinally, and. means topivot each mold about the arm whereby the molds may be stripped fromthe'charge aftersolidifi'cation without lifting itat any point, andapparatus for introducing a liquid into the molds with a minimum ofturbulence and. no overflow including afunnel to conduct the liquid,means to insert and Withdraw the funnel with respect to the molds, saidfunnel. having a curved exit spout extending substantially across aninternal dimension of the mold and directed substantially toward a wallof the mold, an "apronisupported. adjacent-the upper lip of the curvedspout on the side-of the iunnel. toward which thespout curves tosmooththc liquid discharged from the funnel, and means to movethejfunnel and apron relatively with respect to the molds. I

4. Casting apparatus including a conveyor, a plurality of moldspositioned end-to-end and adapted to be advanced longitudinally by theconveyor, each mold comm'unicating with adjacent molds whereby a single,integral article may be cast which extends substantially the combinedlengths of the molds,;means to center the moldsfor their longitudinaltravel, rearwardly extending side arms on-each mold, a rear roller oneach side arm, a link. connecting each arm of a mold'preced-ing anothermold to the succeeding mold, a front rol-l'eron each side of each moldand aspreader for casting the molten charge into the molds with aminimum of turbulence and agitation and no overflow including afunnelhaving a curved spout to 7 provide substantially alaterally-disposed exit, said spout having a configuration to conformwith that of the floor of the molds, means to lower the funnel into themold whereby the laterally-disposed exit is substantially directedtocentcr the molds for their lon'gitudinal travel, means to tome wall ofa mold andsaid conforming.

dons-are brought at Ieasfi'intoailj'acent relation; and means to movethe fnnnel and .moldsrelatively to each while the funnelis in the mold;V .5 Casting apparatus including a plurality of molds positionedcnd-to'-end having a p'lurality'of registering,

longitudinally disposed recesses in each of which a single, integralarticle maybe cast which extends substantially the combined lengthsof'thc' molds, each mold having rear wardiy ext-ending sidearms, a linkconnecting each arm of a mold preceding another mold to the succeedingmold a rear roller on each sidearm, a front roller on *each'side' ofeach mold but spaced from thefrontthereof to accom modate the-rearwardlyextending arm of a preceding mold, j

said links having slotted holes to allow relative movement between saidconnected molds-, a conveyor chain on'e'ach" side oi the molds, aconnector joining the leading mold to the chains whereby the molds areadvanced longitudinally, run-ways substantially parallelingthe'bhainsto"- carry the rollers, a guide to center the molds for theirlongitudinaltravel, means to hold the moldsin fixed abut'-- ting-iContact to receive a molten charge including a stop' adapted to engagethe leading mold, and means to engage the rearmost mold and forcethemold's into endwise contact, and means to: move the conveyor chainswhereby as the molds leave the upper flight of the conveyor they pivot Iabout therear rollers and strip away from the soiidiiied charge withoutlifting" it at any point, a spreader-fordi'rect j in gf the moltencharge intothe recesses including a funnel having-a spout-ofsubstantially rectangular cross-section,- saidtspout having a; curvedend to provide asubstantially laterally-disposed. exit, said exit beingadapted to extend across the width of the molds, the bottom lip of saidcurved end having a longitudinal configuration conforming with. thc floor oi the: molds, an apron supported adjacent the'upper lip of'thecurved end on the side of the ,ftrnnel towar'd which the end curves tosmooth the liquid discharged from. the funnel and confine its upperlevel, means to lower the funnel and apron into the mold to stationtherupper lip of thecurved end at substantially:

the height of the liquid level in the molds and to station the lower'lipin atv least adjacent relation with: the conforming configuration-of amold fl'oor whereby the. later-' ally-disposed exit is directed toward awall of a mold and the liquid is directed only into the recesses-,meansto 'move the funnel and apron relatively to the. molds in a directionopposite to that in which the end of the funnel curves and ataratewhereby the volume 'of the molds traversed by the movement issubstantially equal to the volume of the charge received, and means. toraise the funneland apron from themold. I

References Cited in the fileiof this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTSGermany Mar; 10, 1952 Mme)

1. CASTING APPARATUS INCLUDING A CONVEYOR, A PLURALITY OF MOLDSPOSITIONED END-TO-END AND ADAPTED TO BE ADVANCED LONGITUDINALLY BY THECONVEYOR, EACH MOLD COMMUNICATING WITH ADJACENT MOLDS WHEREBY A SINGLE,INTEGRAL ARTICLE MAY BE CAST WHICH EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY THE COMBINEDLENGTHS OF THE MOLDS, MEANS TO CENTER THE MOLDS FOR THEIR LONGITUDINALTRAVEL, REARWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE ARMS ON EACH MOLD, A REAR ROLLER ONEACH SIDE ARM, A FRONT ROLLER ON EACH SIDE OF EACH MOLD BUT SPACED FROMTHE FRONT THEREOF TO ACCOMODATE THE REARWARDLY EXTENDING ARM OF APRECEDING MOLD, AT LEAST ONE SIDE ARM ON EACH MOLD HAVING A TRAILINGLINK CONNECTED THERETO AND DISPOSED ADJACENT THE CORRESPONDING REARROLLER THEREOF AND ADJACENT A FRONT ROLLER OF THE SUCCEEDING MOLD TOLINK THE MOLDS TOGETHER, SAID LINK HAVING SLOTTED HOLES TO ALLOWRELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID MOLDS, MEANS FOR PRESSURING THE MOLDSTOGETHER TO ELIMINATE THE SLACK FROM THE SLOTTED